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Pain During Intercourse When a woman feels pain while having sexual intercourse, it is called dyspareunia. Painful sex is fairly common. Nearly two out of three women have it at some time during their lives. The pain can range from very mild to severe.
Why You May Feel PainPainful sex can have both physical and emotional causes. To understand why the pain occurs, you should know what happens to your body during sex.
A woman's body follows a regular pattern when she has sex. There are four stages:
Desire — The feeling that you want to have sex.
Arousal — Physical changes take place. Your v****a and vulva get moist and the muscles of the opening of the v****a relax. The clitoris swells and enlarges. The uterus lifts up, and the v****a gets deeper and wider.
Orgasm — The peak of the response. The muscles of the v****a and uterus contract and create a strong feeling of pleasure. The clitoris can feel orgasm, too.
Resolution — The v****a, clitoris and uterus return to their normal state.
Types of Pain and What You Can DoDuring sex a woman may feel pain in the vulva, at the opening of the v****a, within the v****a, or deep inside. Vulvar pain is pain felt on the surface (outside) of the v****a. Vaginal pain is felt within the v****a. Deep pain can occur in the lower back, pelvic region, uterus and bladder.
Vulvar PainPain can occur when some part of the vulva is touched. The vulva may be tender or irritated from using soaps or over-the-counter vaginal sprays or douches. Other causes include scars, cysts or infections.
Vaginal PainVaginal dryness. The most common cause of pain inside the v****a is lack of moisture. This can occur with certain medications, with certain medical conditions, or because you are not aroused. It can occur at certain times of your life such as during or just after pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or near or after menopause.
Vaginitis. Another cause of vaginal pain is vaginitis — an inflammation of the v****a. The most common symptoms of vaginitis are discharge, itching and burning of the v****a and vulva. Vaginitis has many possible causes, such as yeast or bacterial infection.
Vaginismus. Vaginismus is a spasm of the muscles at the opening of the v****a. It causes pain when your partner tries to enter the v****a. In some cases, vaginismus is present the first time a woman has — or tries to have — sex. The pain also may occur during a pelvic exam.
Vaginismus also can be a response to a fear of some kind, such as being afraid of getting pregnant.
Deep PainPain that starts deep inside may be a warning sign of an internal problem. Pain that happens when the p***s touches the cervix can have many causes:
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Problems with the uterus
Endometriosis
A pelvic mass
Bowel or bladder disease
Scar tissue (adhesions)
Ovarian cysts
How Emotions Play a RolePain during sex sometimes can be linked to a state of mind. Emotional factors, like memories or fears, can keep you from relaxing. Some women may feel guilty having sex. Or, some women may be afraid of getting pregnant or getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Sometimes, a past bad sexual experience, such as rape or sexual abuse, may be the cause. All these factors may make it hard to relax during sex. This prevents arousal and lubrication.
Finally …
Pain during sex is a sign there may be a problem. Talk to your doctor about the pain so that the cause can be found and treated as soon as possible. Proper treatment can help you enjoy your sex life. This excerpt from ACOG's Patient Education Pamphlet is provided for your information. It is not medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for visiting your doctor. If you need medical care, have any questions, or wish to receive the full text of this Patient Education Pamphlet, please contact your obstetrician-gynecologist."
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